Laura Smith, Owner, The Biscuit and the Bean

“More than a coffee house, it’s a community,” the Biscuit and the Bean Café mom-and-son team of Laura and Josh Smith create community and connection every day, insisting that “you may enter as a stranger, but you will leave as a friend and part of the family.” Known for its friendly charm, the café offers southern hospitality, warm and inviting coffee and mouth-watering food.

“We know most of our customers personally and are aware of what they are going through and we are there for them,” says Laura, Southeast region winner of the Neighborhood to Nation Recipe Contest. “Community is important to us and the best way to have a good community is to be a part of it.” The Biscuit and the Bean Café hosts fundraisers and blood drives in Winterville, N.C., collects coats for those in need, and shares great tastes and sips.

Using Gold Medal™ SuperMoist™ Yellow Cake Mix for a tender cookie-like crust, Smith’s winning Pear Cream Cheese Tart was inspired by spring. With a dreamy cream cheese filling, pears and a caramel drizzle to balance flavor and texture, the tart is perfect to make ahead and cut to order. Since Tuesday is the most popular day among the café’s loyal customers, Laura and Josh debuted the tart for their regulars, where it was “greeted with instant approval! The Pear Tart was a winner!” Laura notes that the café uses a variety of General Mills’ products since “they are of great quality and enable us to save time, and many of them have multiple uses.”

In addition to a vast array of popular coffee drinks, the Biscuit and the Bean Café is, naturally, known for its biscuits – particularly the signature sweet potato biscuits with applewood bacon, egg and cheese. Other popular items include Mr. Smith’s chicken salad (named for Laura’s dad and his classic recipe) and house-made pound cake, which won a “Best in Show” red ribbon at the North Carolina State Fair. The café now boasts a total of five blue ribbons from the fair, all proudly displayed in the shop.

As a Regional Recipe Winner in the Neighborhood to Nation contest, Smith will receive $5,000 as well as $1,000 to share with a local nonprofit. She has chosen Timbo Towers, named for Tim Oakley who served as a Junior Firefighter for the Winterville Fire Department before losing his life in a tragic car accident. The funds donated will help build a training tower for the local fire department. The Biscuit and the Bean Café will also donate food for the nonprofit’s annual fundraiser.